HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
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Every domicile has one — a dark niche or an empty ledge that ’s exclaim out for some decorative verdure . Dieffenbachia ( dumb cane ) plants are the consummate solution for create an immediate encroachment in those wasteland space . Flaunting large , lush green leafage painted with brushing stroke of creamy yellow , white , or gold , these exotic - looking aroids beg to be noticed .
Dieffenbachia plants are peachy for improving indoor melodic phrase quality because the large leaves are highly efficient at permeate out pollutants . However , be aware that this beautiful houseplant can be toxic for people and pets likewise . With proper precaution , you ’ll be able to savour all the ornamental attributes this plant has to offer .
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page : Basics|Growing|Care|Varieties|Troubleshooting
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DIEFFENBACHIA BASICS
Botanical name:
Dieffenbachiaspp .
Common names:
Dieffenbachia , dumb cane , leopard lily
Origin:
tropic regions of the Caribbean and South Africa
Growth rate:
Fast ontogenesis ; up to 2 groundwork in a class under idealistic growing conditions
Size:
3 to 6 metrical foot tall , 1 to 3 foot wide
Foliage:
Pointed , oblong , and glossy , ordinarily sporting variegated rule of white-hot , yellowish , gold , and different subtlety of green . Can grow to 12 inches or tenacious .
Flowers:
May occasionally make pale unripened peak ( standardised to those of its aroid cousin , thepeace lily ) , when arise under optimal conditions .
Are dieffenbachia plants toxic?
All share of the flora contain calcium oxalate crystals that are toxic to dogs and cats . The sap can also irritate the peel and eyes . Keep dieffenbachia works out of reach of fry and pets ( see this guidance from theASPCA ) . Also , wear down glove when palm the plant .
GROWING DIEFFENBACHIA
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Light:
Dieffenbachia put up a wide chain of lite condition , but grows best in hopeful , collateral light source , such as from an east- or Occident - facing windowpane . Most plant will also do fine in dark sphere of the home base , but they wo n’t spring up as smartly and may become lank . keep off verbatim sunlight , which can blacken the leaves and cause the color to pass .
pourboire : To ensure even growth , revolve your genus Dieffenbachia on a regular basis so it receives luminosity from all side . Otherwise , it tend to slant towards the weak source .
Temperature:
Prefers mediocre room temperatures of 65 ° to 75 ° F. Keep away from stale drafts and temperature below 55 ° F.
Humidity:
Like most tropic houseplants , dieffenbachias prefer moderate to gamy humidity . In drier areas of the dwelling , you’re able to keep your plants hydrate by misting the leave of absence , typeset them on a tray make full with pebble and water supply , or group your dieffenbachia with other houseplants .
Soil:
Use a well - drain potting mix that has effective moisture retention .
DIEFFENBACHIA PLANT CARE
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Watering:
Water on a regular basis spring through fall , allowing the soil to dry to a astuteness of 1 inch between lachrymation . piddle less often during the wintertime . To avoid sluggish grease , which can lead to root rot , verify there are sufficient drain trap in the bottom of the pot so your plant will enfeeble altogether after tearing .
Fertilizing:
In March through September , fertilise every two weeks using a liquid houseplant fertilizer thin out by half . fertilise less often if your plant is growing in blue lighter . Stop fertilise in winter .
Pruning and shaping:
As silent canes mature , down farewell of course throw off to give away thick stems , resulting in a palm - tree - similar coming into court . If you want a bushier plant , merely cut the canes back to the hope altitude and new ontogenesis will emerge below the cut . It ’s skilful to cut the canes at a 45 - degree angle just above a leaf lymph gland , stimulate trusted not to murder more than a third of the plant ’s foliage .
caveat : Always bust gloves when snip a dumb cane to avoid skin contact with the plant sap . Also avoid advert your face and eye .
Leaf care:
Keep the foliage nice and bright by cleaning it occasionally with a damp cloth . This is also a salutary chance to check for pests that may be hiding under the enceinte leave .
Repotting:
Due to its fast growth rate , it may be necessary to repot yourDieffenbachiaevery twelvemonth or two . Move it to a pot that is about 2 inches wider and slenderly deeper than the existing container . institute large varieties , such as ' Tropic Snow ' in a impenetrable container to keep them from tipping over .
Propagation:
It ’s easy to propagate aDieffenbachiafrom cane cuttings or stem tip cut taken during pruning . Cut the bare cane into 2 - in pieces , ensuring each piece includes a knob . Lay them horizontally on moist potting soil or another rooting medium until solution develop . fore tip cutting with leaves attach can be propagated by place them in good order side up in soil or water .
Pests:
scrutinise the leaf weekly for common houseplant pests such asmealybugs , whitefly , scaleandspider soupcon . Once you spot an wrongdoer , do by the plant right away to forefend an infestation . ( See more onhow to get disembarrass of pests on houseplants )
DIEFFENBACHIA VARIETIES
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Dieffenbachia seguine
One of the most common metal money ofDieffenbachia , featuring dark green leaves with typical cream - gloss veining and thick cane - like stems . Often used as one of the parent plants forDieffenbachiacultivars and hybrid to create new variations in leaf colouration and pattern .
' Tropic Snow '
Sports handsome dark green leave-taking with creamy white marbling . Can develop to a height of 6 metrical foot or more , so situation in a large container to take advantage of its marvellous stature .
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' Camille '
Features creamy ivory - jaundiced leaves with dismal green margins and a full , bushy growth use .
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' Star Bright '
burnished favorable - green farewell accent by splashes of bloodless and dark green are narrower than those of most varieties .
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' Compacta '
Produces impenetrable clumps of green foliage intemperately flecked with white markings . Maxing out a pinnacle of about 2 feet , it fits nicely on a tabletop or ledge .
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' Camouflage '
Attractive pale green leaves serve as the background for creamy blanched vein and random speckles of dark park . Each leaf sports a different pattern .
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH DIEFFENBACHIA
Dieffenbachias are usually trouble - free , but when they are unhappy with their growing consideration , the foliage is often the first matter to suffer . Here are some common warning sign to expect for :
